August 6, 2026
Harris County ESD 11 Team Members Recognized Among Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network Award Winners
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS — August 6, 2026 — Harris County Emergency Services District No. 11 (Harris County ESD 11) is proud to recognize several members of its team who were honored last week during the Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network (GHC 9-1-1) awards luncheon.
Three ESD 11 team members received GHC 9-1-1 honors, recognizing their outstanding contributions to emergency communications and the communities they serve.
Ashley Harrison was named Telecommunicator of the Year, and Allison De La Vega was named Trainer of the Year. Both awards were selected through voting by GHC 9-1-1 and represent significant recognition of their professionalism, dedication and commitment to excellence.
In addition, Nicole Ward received the Silent Hero recognition. While the Silent Hero designation is a recognition rather than a traditional voted award, it honors individuals whose contributions and dedication often happen behind the scenes and whose work makes a meaningful difference to their colleagues and the public.
ESD 11 leadership and staff nominated team members across several categories for recognition through state and regional emergency communications organizations. Those nominations included:
Texas APCO Award Nominations
- Technical Professional of the Year: Andrew Anderson
- Telecommunicator of the Year: Ashley Harrison
- Trainer of the Year: Allison De La Vega
Texas NENA Award Nominations
- Telecommunicator of the Year: Carmel Guerrero
- Silent Hero: Nicole Ward — Winner
GHC 9-1-1 Award Nominations
- Telecommunicator of the Year: Ashley Harrison — Winner
- Trainer of the Year: Allison De La Vega — Winner
- Supervisor of the Year: Victoria Castillo
- Rookie of the Year: Melvin Smith
- Team of the Year: Christine Mangum, Dolores Merlos and Nicole Ward
“We are incredibly proud of every one of our nominees and especially grateful that their dedication is being recognized by their peers and the Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network,” says Juan Rodriguez Communications Manager. “These honors reflect not only the individual accomplishments of Ashley, Allison and Nicole, but also the professionalism and commitment demonstrated every day by our entire emergency communications team.”
The recognition of Allison De La Vega as Trainer of the Year is particularly meaningful as her role involves helping prepare and develop the next generation of emergency communications professionals. Her dedication to training and supporting her colleagues contributes directly to the quality of service provided to the community.
ESD 11 congratulates Ashley Harrison, Allison De La Vega and Nicole Ward on their well-deserved GHC 9-1-1 recognitions and thanks all of the nominees for their continued service and dedication.
About Harris County ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare:
Harris County ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare covers a 177 square mile area of northern Harris County with over 700,000 residents, the largest Emergency Service District in the state of Texas. Harris County ESD 11 receives over 65,000 calls a year and consistently ranks among the best EMS services in the country for speed of response, patient satisfaction and quality of care. The Harris County Emergency Services District 11 Communication Center, known as Control, is recognized as an ACE Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. This prestigious designation highlights our commitment to excellence in emergency dispatch services. As an ACE-accredited agency, we enjoy increased visibility in community service, enhanced support in litigation and liability management, and improved recruitment and retention, affirming the value and impact of our team’s work.
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Contact: Miranda Sevcik, ESD 11 Public Information Officer 346-226-8808
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